Dear beekeepers, colleagues and friends

I write to inform you that I have made a decision to step down as President of Apimondia. This was not an easy decision. Following my doctor’s recommendation, obligations to family and wife Marianne and other professional obligations, it has become impossible for me to honorably serve Apimondia for the remaining two years. I simply cannot give to Apimondia the time and energy it deserves. I started work with Apimondia as a volunteer in 1999 in Vancouver and then went on to serve as both President of the Bee Health Commission and these last 6 years as President of Apimondia. I have been proud to serve and will miss the colleagues across the globe that I have met through Apimondia.

I want to thank those of you who attended the 49th Congress in Copenhagen and to those who were unable to attend, you missed a great event. Apimondia played host to over 8,000 people at the Congress from at least 144 countries, a truly global event. Apimondia will work to get information shared at the Congress in digital form and available via our website. As I stand down as President, the work of Apimondia continues and I thank both our office in Rome and Peter Kozmus for stepping up to serve as acting President until we have a new Presidential election in 2027 at the Congress in Dubai.

I will not disappear but will devote more time to my family, research and a project in Africa. As one person once simply said “I have different living to do”. My volunteer work with Apimondia has been a real pleasure and I have been honored to serve as your President.

My best wishes to all, and may you and your bees prosper. Bee well.

Sincerely,

Dr Jeff Pettis
Apimondia Past President